The Benefits of Knowing Floor Flatness

The Benefit of Construction Floor Flatness

As we move about our daily lives, one of the most straightforward things we often overlook is the flatness of the floor. We assume that as we walk on it and it’s easy to move around, it must be flat! It’s easy to forget until suddenly, you’re on an incline or hit a dip and you notice the floor isn’t as flat or level as you thought.

That’s why when it comes to building projects in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, floor flatness and levelness are of the utmost importance. Whether it’s a simple single-family home, a 50,000 square foot warehouse, or a 30-story skyscraper, floor flatness, and levelness are on the top of every builder and designer’s mind.

AEC industry professionals understand the importance of a flat and level floor and know that flooring materials can shift, warp, flex, or misalign. One of the most common flooring materials used for the base level of millions of buildings is concrete. However, concrete is not a “set and forget” material. Concrete has many different properties that contribute to its overall composition, including compressive strength, air entrainment, slump, etc.  A team needs to take all these components into account when building new construction to provide a solid foundation that has the integrity to last through strenuous use. One misalignment or problem with the flooring can throw off an entire project, causing production delays, future revenue loss, or even employee injury from possible operational incidents. Who knew that the flatness of the floor could have such an impact on the bottom line? Floor flatness and levelness are proof that every element and facet of a building project must be covered and secured to ensure the development is successful.

What is Floor Flatness and Levelness?

Before we dive into how floor flatness and levelness are measured, we should quickly review what floor flatness and levelness are. We’ll examine the definition for ease of discussion on our typical base floor, concrete. In its simplest form, floor flatness is a measurement of “how close a section of concrete is to planar, or more simply whether the concrete slab has bumps or waves as you move across the slab. As it is repeatedly exposed to weather elements or constant force, a floor begins to warp and reshape, solidifying why flatness is a critical measurement to follow. Similarly, floor levelness is how close a section of concrete is to its intended slope (usually 0).

Not all buildings require the same level of tolerance within their floor. For example, a warehouse facility where robots are picking up and moving loaded storage racks around the floor may require a higher level of tolerance so the racks won’t tip and cause accidents.  A school may not require such tolerances. Either way, every floor has a designed tolerance that must be met.

How is Floor Flatness Measured?

Over the years, many parts of the AEC industry have advanced heavily with innovative technology and building techniques. Surprisingly, not every aspect of the AEC world has followed suit. Traditionally, floor flatness and levelness have been measured by hand. In an age of expedited production and cost-saving measures, this hand-controlled method has proven to be cumbersome, costly, and includes a high margin of error. It doesn’t produce a comprehensive view, and often there are minor details that can’t be seen by the human eye. These issues can cause future problems, proving why accurate measurements are imperative to the structural project.

Along with the possibility of error, acquiring the equipment and necessary training and certifications to correctly measure the space can cost thousands of dollars in both revenue and time. Between potential revenue loss, time loss, and a high margin of error, hand-measuring isn’t worth the time on an important, valuable building project. In the age of advanced technology, we need to give our projects the highest level of attention they deserve.

TrueScan Can Help: The Benefits of Measuring Floor Flatness and Levelness

One of the best benefits of using advanced technology in the AEC industry is the ability to account for and review human error or confusion. TrueScan’s 3D laser scanning technology makes finding floor flatness and levelness easier than ever before. In a matter of minutes, laser scanning can measure every inch of your space. The datasets can then be analyzed and used for locating and identifying specific details that hand-measuring and the human eye would easily overlook. TrueScan’s scanning services pick up millions of data points per second, providing you with the most comprehensive and detailed measurement of your space. Not only does 3D scanning capture the crucial details a hand profiler could miss, but it also saves precious time and money. At TrueScan, we understand that time is money, and we want to make sure your project is completed in the most efficient and cost-effective way. 3D scanning takes exponentially less time to measure floor flatness and levelness and cuts out the need for you or your firm to purchase expensive equipment and train employees. TrueScan brings the expertise to you and makes sure you have the correct data you need the first time. Contact one of our experienced teammates today to find out how TrueScan can make sure your building or structure is sound and secure for the future.